Stair Lifts & Medicare Coverage

You, a family member, or even a colleague might be in the market to purchase a stair lift for their home or business. Stair lifts are a great and well-known solution for those who struggle going up and down the stairs for different reasons. Some individuals may have an injury, some may be a disability, and some might just be getting older meaning that they aren’t as mobile as they once were.

Being safe on the staircase and avoiding injury are only two of the many benefits that someone gets after installing a stair lifts, but affording one can be challenging for some. Times are tough nowadays and lots of people are just getting by with just getting essentials they need for everyday tasks. A stair lift, on average, can cost someone around $3,500 – $5,000 for the product, installation, and after-sale support. Now keep in mind that for certain staircases that are curved in shape or outdoor stair lifts can get even more expensive on average, costing around $8,000 – $12,000 for everything. Those numbers may be really head-turning and can make people feel hopeless because they assume that they will never be able to afford a stair lift.

Put This into Perspective

The cost of a stairlift may be higher than you expected, it usually is shocking for most but thinks about the other possible outcomes. Say that you or a loved one falls down the staircase; well, I hate to say it but the cost of that fall might turn your head even more. According to the National Council of Aging, “On average, the hospitalization cost for a fall injury is over $35,000”. Now that is expensive and just downright ridiculous for people to pay that much on average for a fall they could’ve avoided with a stair lift.

Another thing to toss into perspective is that people tend to think that the best and most cost-effective solution for an aging family member is assisted living services. When in reality assisted living costs are a pretty penny, it’s more than you think. According to WhereYouLiveMatters.org, “The national median cost for assisted living per month is $4,000, which breaks down to around $133 per day (and adds up to $48,000 per year)”. How about that, the cost to keep someone in those establishments can cost you your annual salary, for most. When you could just invest in a stair lift, stay in your own home, and keep living independently with safe modifications.

Don’t Panic, There Is A Solution

Now the very, very last thing you want to do after seeing all those zeros on the price tag for a stair lift is to hunt for a cheaper one. Sometimes really cheap stair lift installation can lead to more problems than you started with. Maintenance and repairs, the stair lift just stops working overall, or in the worst case, your stair lift breaks leading to an injury you didn’t deserve. Don’t let that happen to you or anyone that you know, take a deep breath and prepare to read how you can afford a proper stair lift installation with some help from different forms of funding.

Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts?

The age-old question, the title of this blog post, but let’s just get straight to the point here. Medicare does not cover the cost of stair lifts. According to Medicare.gov Part A doesn’t cover stair lifts and Part B doesn’t cover stair lifts either, but it does cover DME’s (durable medical equipment). Stair lifts aren’t even considered to be a piece of DME which is why they don’t fall under this category. If you’re curious as to what is considered to be a piece of DME click here.

The Light at The End of The Tunnel

You might be thinking, “What am I going to do now?!” after reading all that information above. Calm down, there are still lots of possibilities for additional financial support for your new stair lift.

Does Medicaid Cover Stair Lifts?

This is another option for those looking for any type of funding or extra support to purchase a stair lift. According to the United Healthcare website, “Medicaid is managed by states whereas Medicare is managed by the Federal Government”. For more information about the Medicare and Medicaid differences click here. Many states offer waiver-based programs that can cover the cost of any home modification for aging in place, including stair lifts. Click here for the waiver-based application for Illinois, click here for all the other states and the guidelines they follow.

Can I obtain a State-Funded Program for a Stair Lift?

This is one of the options that people can take advantage of to help pay for a stair lift for any residence, but be careful. Every state tends to have different guidelines or rules when it comes to applying for these programs. According to PayingForSeniorCare.com, Illinois residents fall under the “Home Accessibility Program” providing support to those in need in Illinois. There are plenty of other programs as well for different states, to see those click here for more information.

                                       Does the VA Have Stair Lift Funding?

Have you ever served in the military? If yes, the VA (Veterans Administration) will gladly help in any way that they can to help get you the stair lift you need. Now if you don’t know where to find a VA in your state click here to see a list of establishments you can call for further assistance. If that doesn’t work out then you can always see if you can apply and receive a grant. The VA offers housing grants for veterans with disabilities that stemmed during their service, see what grants you can qualify for by clicking here.

Crowdsourcing

“What is this?” This is where people get funding for a project by raising money from a variety of people including, but not subject to, family, friends, and even professional relationships. This can be done through an in-person fundraising event but with COVID-19 still lingering around you can promote an event online with ease. Some of the more popular online platforms that offer the option to promote a funding event are Facebook, Kickstarter, and GoFundMe.

Local Stair Lift Funding

One way to get local funds can be through a church. Don’t overlook a place of worship as a way to develop funds for a certain something like a stair lift. If you belong to that church or go there in general, they should be able to assist you with raising funds for a cause. Another way you can get funding is through local municipalities and local senior service organizations. These services can provide you funding if you meet their criteria, so get in contact with them. You can find local senior services organizations near you here, just fill in your information at the bottom of that page to see what is in your state.

Still Not Sure About Things?

Get in touch with us if you need any type of stair lift or have questions about them, we’re happy to help. Call Home For Life Advantage at (630) 466-2611, we’re open Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM.